Electricity and Gas in Rome: How to Choose a Provider on the Free Market
The regulated market is over. Here's how to compare offers, spot scams, and switch providers without the stress.
In a nutshell
Since 1 July 2024, the regulated electricity market has ended for non-vulnerable customers. Gas left the regulated market on 1 January 2024. You now need to choose a provider on the free market, or you remain temporarily in the Servizio a Tutele Graduali (STG) — a transition arrangement managed by ARERA (Italy's energy and utilities regulator) that runs until 31 March 2027. Switching provider is free and never interrupts your physical supply.
At a glance
| Cost to switch | Free |
| Time to switch | 4–6 weeks (effective from the 1st of the following month) |
| Right of withdrawal | 14 days for contracts signed remotely |
| Where to compare | ilportaleofferte.it — ARERA's official neutral comparison tool |
| Average electricity bill (Rome) | €700–1,000/year (2,700 kWh) |
| Average gas bill (Rome) | €1,000–1,500/year (1,400 Smc) |
The three regimes currently in force
Free market — the default for everyone. You choose the provider, the fixed or variable price, and the contract length. The energy component is the only part of your bill where you can actually save money: all other line items (network charges, system costs, taxes) are the same across all providers, because ARERA sets them centrally.
Servizio a Tutele Graduali (STG) — electricity only. This applies to non-vulnerable customers who hadn't yet chosen a free-market provider by 1 July 2024. ARERA assigned these customers by public auction to operators such as Enel Energia, Hera Comm, A2A Energia, and Edison Energia. Pricing under the STG works similarly to the old regulated market and runs until 31 March 2027 (unless extended).
Tutela vulnerabili (vulnerable customer protection) — for those in protected categories: people over 75, disabled individuals under Law 104 art. 3 c. 3, recipients of the social bonus, and users with essential electro-medical equipment. These customers stay on ARERA-regulated pricing until they voluntarily choose the free market, with no expiry deadline.
How to compare offers
The official comparison tool is the ARERA Portale Offerte: ilportaleofferte.it. It's free, public, and doesn't promote any particular provider. To use it you need:
- Your POD code (electricity) or PDR code (gas) — found on any recent bill
- Your annual consumption in kWh or Smc — also on your bill
- The postcode of your home
The tool calculates the total annual cost based on your actual consumption. Pay attention to these items:
- Energy component price (€/kWh or €/Smc) — the figure that really matters
- Annual standing charge — especially significant if you're a low consumer
- Early termination penalties — read carefully before signing
- Duration of the fixed price — typically 12–24 months maximum
Fixed price vs indexed price?
| Type | When it makes sense |
|---|---|
| Fixed price (12–24 months) | You want certainty, or the market is volatile |
| Indexed to PUN/PSV | You're comfortable with risk and expect prices to fall |
| Dual-rate F1/F23 | You use most electricity in the evenings or at weekends |
| Flat rate (mono-orario) | You work from home, or the flat is occupied all day |
Main providers active in Rome
| Provider | Freephone |
|---|---|
| Enel Energia | 800 900 800 |
| Edison Energia | 800 031 141 |
| A2A Energia | 800 199 955 |
| ENI Plenitude | 800 900 700 |
| Acea Energia | 800 198 134 |
| Iren Mercato | 800 969 696 |
| Hera Comm | 800 999 500 |
| Iberdrola Clienti | 800 122 887 |
| Engie Italia | 800 901 050 |
| Sorgenia | 800 290 290 |
Digital-first providers with competitive rates include NeN, Octopus Energy, Tate, Wekiwi, and Pulsee (Axpo). You can compare all of them on the ARERA Portale Offerte.
How to switch provider: step by step
Step 1 — Pull out your most recent bill: note your current provider, your POD/PDR code, your annual consumption, and what you're currently paying for the energy component.
Step 2 — Go to ilportaleofferte.it, enter your details, and sort results by total annual cost. Before committing, open the STO (Scheda Tecnica Offerta — the standard offer datasheet) and the CCS (Condizioni Contrattuali del Servizio — the contract terms): look for penalties, automatic renewals, and hidden charges.
Step 3 — Sign the contract online (with SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services), CIE (Italian electronic ID card), or electronic signature), by phone, or in a store. If you sign remotely (online, by phone, or door-to-door) you have 14 days to withdraw at no cost under art. 52 of the Codice del Consumo (Consumer Code). For contracts signed in-store, the withdrawal policy depends on the provider.
Step 4 — Your new provider handles everything: they notify the local grid operator and automatically cancel your old contract. You don't need to do a thing. The switch takes effect from the first of the following month (4–6 weeks in total). Your supply is never interrupted — same cables, same meter.
Step 5 — Within 2–3 months you'll receive your first bill from the new provider. Check that the energy component price matches what you signed up for, and that any promised discounts are active.
Social bonus: if your household income is low
If your ISEE (income-and-wealth indicator used to qualify for means-tested benefits) is below €9,530 (or €20,000 with four or more dependent children), you're entitled to a social bonus on electricity, gas, and water. Indicative 2025–2026 amounts:
- Electricity: €125–180/year
- Gas: €80–200/year
- Water: €18–50/year
To claim it, you just need to submit the DSU form at a CAF (free assistance office for tax forms and benefits applications) or Patronato (free union-run office helping with social-security and immigration paperwork): INPS (Italy's social-security agency) forwards the data to Acquirente Unico, and the discount appears automatically on your bill regardless of which provider you're with. Severely disabled people with life-saving equipment are also entitled to an additional electricity bonus, independent of ISEE.
Mistakes to avoid
- "We're ARERA, we're changing your provider." ARERA never calls customers and doesn't sell offers. If you receive a call like this, it's a scam. Verify everything at sportelloperilconsumatore.it.
- Signing under pressure at the door. You have the right to read all documentation first, and 14 days to change your mind. Never sign before explicitly comparing the price per kWh or Smc.
- Believing that a "forever-fixed price" exists. It doesn't: a fixed price runs for 12–24 months at most, then changes. Always read the STO before signing.
Special cases
Newly arrived in Italy: you can sign electricity and gas contracts just like anyone else. If you don't yet have an Italian bank account, you can pay by postal order (fee €1.80–2.50/bill), rechargeable credit card, or at a payment point (PagoPA/Mooney, fee ~€1.50–2).
Foreign nationals with a permit under renewal: the postal receipt from your permit renewal kit is a valid document for signing utility contracts (Ministry of the Interior Circular 17272/2006).
Two bills for the same POD from different providers: file a formal complaint within 30 days with the unwanted provider. You're entitled to cancellation of that contract and a refund of any overpayment.
Switching with an unpaid bill: technically possible, but the old provider can start debt-recovery proceedings through the Integrated Information System. Better to settle the balance first.
If you have a problem
Complaint to your provider: always the first step. The provider has 30 days to respond. Use PEC (certified email — legally valid in Italy), registered post (raccomandata A/R), or the online complaint form in the "Reclami" section of their website.
If the provider doesn't respond or the answer is unsatisfactory, contact the Sportello del Consumatore Energia (managed by Acquirente Unico on behalf of ARERA): freephone 800 166 654, website sportelloperilconsumatore.it.
Before going to court you must first attempt conciliazione paritetica (mandatory mediation) through the ARERA Conciliation Portal: it's free, fully online, and concludes within 90 days. For unfair commercial practices (aggressive telemarketing, unfair contract terms) you can also report to the Antitrust authority AGCM at agcm.it.
Official sources
- ARERA — Regulatory authority
- ARERA Portale Offerte
- ARERA — List of licensed suppliers
- Sportello del Consumatore Energia
- Acquirente Unico
- ARERA Conciliation Portal
- AGCM — Antitrust
Legal references: Directive 2019/944/EU; Directive 2009/73/CE; Legge 124/2017 art. 1 commi 59–85; DL 17/2022; Delibera ARERA 491/2020/R/com; Delibera ARERA 322/2023/R/eel; D.Lgs. 206/2005 — Codice del Consumo.